Exercise Recording Device and Exercise Recording System Thereof

ABSTRACT

An exercise recording device includes a communication unit for receiving an equipment information, a gravity sensor for generating a sensing signal, a processor coupled to the communication unit and the gravity sensor for generating an exercise record according to the equipment information and the sensing signal, and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the exercise record according to a display signal generated by the processor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise recording device and exercise recording system thereof, and more particularly, to an exercise recording device and exercise recording system thereof for collecting numerical data for reference during weight training.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Weight training, which is also called Isotonic training, is a type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction. Weight training uses a variety of specialized equipment to target specific muscle groups and types of movement, wherein weight machines are most popular and widely used.

In general, a coach or trainer plans an exercise menu or program based on physical conditions of a trainee and the specific muscle groups which the trainee wants to develop, and the exercise menu may include a type of exercise, a movement, a weight, a number of repetitions, and a number of sets. Under a circumstance that the trainee can use the equipment correctly, the trainee may perform the weight training by himself according to the exercise menu. After the weight training is finished, the trainee may report to the trainer about his achievement to discuss whether a difficulty of the exercise menu is proper or not, such that the trainer may accordingly modify and plan the exercise menu for the next weight training.

However, there maybe a communication gap between the trainee and the trainer due to a lack of numerical reference records for the weight training, such as the type of exercise, the movement, the weight, the number of repetitions, and the number of sets that the trainee actually performed during the weight training. When using only verbal discussions, the trainee and trainer may not be able to objectively judge whether contents and the difficulty of the exercise menu is proper or not.

Therefore, there is a need to design an exercise recording device for collecting numerical data when the trainee performs the weight training.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an exercise recording device and exercise recording system for collecting numerical data when the performing the exercise menu.

The present invention discloses an exercise recording device, comprising a communication unit for receiving an equipment information, a gravity sensor for generating a sensing signal, a processor coupled to the communication unit and the gravity sensor for generating an exercise record according to the equipment information and the sensing signal, and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the exercise record according to a display signal generated by the processor.

The present invention discloses an exercise recording system, comprising an exercise recording device comprising a first communication unit for receiving an equipment information, a gravity sensor for generating a sensing signal, a first processor coupled to the communication unit and the gravity sensor for generating an exercise record according to the equipment information and the sensing signal, and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the exercise record according to a display signal generated by the processor, and at least one exercise equipment, wherein each of the at least one exercise equipment comprises a plurality of second communication units for transmitting the equipment information.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an exercise recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an appearance diagram of the exercise recording device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial appearance of the exercise recording device and the exercise equipment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates an appearance of the exercise equipment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exercise menu according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exercise record according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a functional block diagram of an exercise recording system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The exercise recording system 1 includes an exercise recording device 10, at least one exercise equipment 20 and an exercise database 30. The exercise recording system 1 may be used for a gymnasium or a sports center. The exercise recording device 10 may download an exercise menu from the exercise database 30, and a trainee may follow an instruction of the exercise menu to perform weight training by using the instructed exercise equipment 20. When the trainee is performing the weight training, the exercise recording device 10 may collect numerical exercise records and transmit the exercise records to the exercise database 30. The exercise database 30 is used for storing the exercise menu and the corresponding exercise records, which allows a trainer to modify and plan the exercise menu for the next weight training according to exercise records for this time. Or, the trainee may review the exercise record to ask for further requirements. As a result, once the weight training is finished, both of the trainee and trainer may objectively review an achievement of the weight training according to exercise record to plan the exercise menu for the next weight training, which improves a communication gap between the trainee and trainer and improves an efficiency of the weight training.

In detail, the exercise recording device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a processor 12, a storing unit 13, a gravity sensor 14 and a display 15. The communication unit 11 may be used for performing wireless communication to receive an equipment information W_info from the exercise equipment 20, and receive an exercise menu E_menu from the exercise database 30. The gravity sensor 14 may be used for generating a sensing signal G_sig. The processor 12 is coupled to the communication unit 11 and the gravity sensor 14 and used for generating an exercise record E_rcd according to the equipment information W_info and the sensing signal G_sig, wherein the exercise record E_rcd corresponds to an exercise menu E_menu. In addition, the processor 12 may generate a display signal D_sig according to the exercise menu E_menu and the exercise record E_rcd. The display 15 is coupled to the processor 12 and used for displaying the exercise record E_rcd according to the display signal D_sig generated by the processor 12, such that a user, i.e. the trainee, may watch a recording status instantly. The storing unit 13 is coupled to the processor 12 and used for being accessed by the processor 12 to store the exercise menu E_menu and the corresponding exercise record E_rcd.

Each of the exercise equipment 20 includes a plurality of communication units 21 for transmitting the equipment information W_info to the exercise recording device 10. The equipment information W_info may indicate a type of exercise, a machine code and a weight.

The exercise database 30 includes a communication unit 31, a processor 32 and a storing unit 33. The processor 32 is coupled to the storing unit 33 and the communication unit 31. The communication unit 31 is used for performing wireless communication with the communication unit 11 to transmit the exercise menu E_menu to the exercise recording device 10 and receive the exercise record E_rcd from the exercise recording device 10. The storing unit 33 is used for storing the exercise menu E_menu and the exercise record E_rcd.

In operation, please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates an appearance diagram of the exercise recording device 10. The exercise recording device 10 is preferably a wearable recording device such as a wristband, foot ring, eyeglasses or necklace to be worn on the trainee. The exercise recording device 10 shown in FIG. 2 is illustrated with a wristband, which is not limited. Before the trainee performs the weight training, the trainee may download the exercise menu E_menu from the exercise database 30 by the communication unit 11 of the exercise recording device 10, and the processor 12 may generate the display signal D_sig according to the exercise menu E_menu, such that the display 15 displays the content of the exercise menu E_menu.

As shown in FIG. 2, a machine code (e.g. L2), a suggested number of repetitions (e.g. fifteen times), a current number of repetitions (e.g. thirteen times), a suggested weight (e.g. eight kilograms), a tip for next item (e.g. H4) and a serial number of a locker (e.g. twenty-two) are indicated on a screen of the display 15. However, items shown in the screen of the display 15 may be adjusted based on different exercises. Take running for example, the display 15 may display a duration (e.g. 10 minutes) to instruct a suggested running time, and the processor 12 further times an actual duration to record how many minutes and seconds that the trainee has run. In addition, the exercise recording device 10 may be used as a personal identification or a pass card for a membership management of the gymnasium or the sports center. For example, the storing unit 13 may store personal information of the trainee, such as name, phone number, membership number an so on, thereby the exercise database or other host computers may communicate with the exercise recording device 10 to read the personal information to identify the trainee. As a result, by the exercise recording device 10, the trainee may be authorized to use the exercise equipments, record an expenditure (e.g. information of rented locker and towel), and enter restricted areas (e.g. dressing room, group classroom and weight training room) in the gymnasium or the sports center.

Moreover, the processor 12 may generate the display signal D_sig according to the current exercise record E_rcd to display a connection status D_stu on the display 15. The connection status D_stu is used for indicating whether the communication unit 11 of the exercise recording device 10 is communicating with other communication units 21 or 31. For example, the communication unit 11 is connected with other communication units or the communication unit 11 has transmitted/received data successfully when the connection status D_stu emits a blue light; and the communication unit 11 is not connected to any communication unit or the communication unit 11 fails to transmit/receive data when the connection status D_stu emits a red light. Therefore, the connection status D_stu may indicate whether the exercise recording device 10 has successfully transmitted/received data to ensure an intactness of the exercise record E_rcd.

Furthermore, the processor 12 may generate the display signal D_sig according to the current exercise record E_rcd to display an exercise progress E_prg on the display 15. The exercise progress E_prg is used for indicating a progress of an exercise item that the trainee is performing. For example, half or over half of the exercise item has been performed (e.g. the trainee has performed eight times of the suggested number of repetitions fifteen times) when the exercise progress E_prg emits a yellow light; one quarter of the exercise item is left to be completely performed (e.g. the trainee has performed twelve times of the suggested number of repetitions fifteen times) when the exercise progress E_prg emits an orange light; and the exercise item has been completely performed (e.g. the trainee has performed fifteen times) when exercise progress E_prg emits a green light. In addition, the exercise progress E_prg may be denoted with a block or cube representing a specific exercise item, which means the more green cubes there are, the more exercise items have been completely performed.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 at one time, FIG. 3 illustrates the exercise recording device 10 and a partial appearance of the exercise equipment 20. Take a weight machine for example, the weight machine is generally equipped with a plurality of stacks having a same weight, the trainee may move a location of a latch to adjust a number of stacks and determine a strength or loading of each movement. The plurality of communication units 21 may be respectively disposed on one of the stacks or at locations corresponding to one of the stacks of the exercise equipment 20 to transmit the strength or loading of each movement to the exercise recording device 10.

In FIG. 2, the exercise recording device 10 further includes a holder 16 for holding the exercise recording device 10, such that the exercise recording device 10 may be attached to or removed from the holder 16. In FIG. 3, the trainee may remove the exercise recording device 10 from the holder 16 and place the exercise recording device 10 onto a latch 22 of the exercise equipment 20 before using the exercise equipment 20, which is assumed to be a weight machine. The communication unit 11 may read the equipment information W_info to record a machine code of the exercise equipment 20 and a weight (e.g. eight kilograms of the stacks) by communicating with the communication unit 21 of the exercise equipment 20. In addition, when using a treadmill, the trainee may place the exercise recording device 10 onto the holder 16 to wear the exercise recording device 10 on his or her wrist.

In general, every time that the trainee performs one movement on the weight machine, the stacks of the weight machine are vertically lifted and dropped once, which allows the trainee to train his muscle by repeatedly performing the movement. The gravity sensor 14 is used for sensing a vertical movement to generate the sensing signal G_sig, such that the processor 12 accumulates a number of repetitions according to the sensing signal G_sig. For example, as the trainee performs one movement, the gravity sensor 14 may sense one vertical movement and output the sensing signal G_sig to the processor 12. The processor 12 may accumulate the number of repetitions once the sensing signal G_sig is received to display a current number of repetitions on the display 15, i.e. FIG. 2 illustrates thirteen times of the current number of repetitions.

On the other hand, some of the weight machines are designed for multifunction, which allows the trainee to train different muscle group by different usages, but the stacks are the same. In other words, an exercise machine having a machine code and a set of stacks may be used to perform multiple exercises, and thus different types of exercise are introduced. Hence, to identify different types of exercise, additional communication units may be disposed on the exercise equipment 20 for transmitting the equipment information W_info indicating the type of exercise to the exercise recording device 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the exercise equipment 20 further includes a plurality of communication units 23 for transmitting the equipment information W_info indicating the type of exercise to the exercise recording device 10.

In such a structure, during the weight training, the exercise recording device 10 may guide the trainee to perform suggested exercise items according to the exercise menu E_menu, and the exercise recording device 10 may instantly demonstrate information such as an exercise progress and an achievement rate to record the exercise record E_rcd thorough the weight training. Of course, the trainee may adjust the weight of the stacks based on physical conditions during the weight training.

After the trainee has completed the weight training, the exercise menu E_menu and the corresponding exercise record E_rcd may be transmitted to the exercise database 30 by the communication unit 11 of the exercise recording device 10. The exercise database 30 may receive the exercise recording device 10 by the communication unit 31 to store in the storing unit 33. As a result, the trainer may plan the content of the next exercise menu E_menu according to the current exercise menu E_menu and the exercise record E_rcd, so as to meet practical requirements of the trainee.

Specifically, please refer to FIG. 5, which is a schematic diagram of an exercise menu E_menu according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a first exercise item indicated by the exercise menu E_menu is warm-up, and the type of exercise/machine code is E, the duration is five minutes and the movements includes head stretch, arm twist and abdominal stretch. A second exercise item indicated by the exercise menu E_menu is running, and the type of exercise/machine code is R3, the duration is thirty minutes, and the movements includes level one to level five, level five to level fifteen, level two to level ten. A third item indicated by the exercise menu E_menu is leg kick, and the type of exercise/machine code is L2, the duration is fifteen minutes, the number of repetitions is five, the weight is four pounds, and the number of set is three. A fourth exercise item indicated by the exercise menu E_menu is dumbbell, and the type of exercise/machine code is H4, the duration is eighteen minutes, the number of repetitions is six, the weight is five pounds, and the number of set is three. In addition, the exercise menu E_menu also indicates a rest time between two exercise items. For example, a rest time between the running and the leg kick is five minutes, a rest time between the leg kick and the dumbbell is three minutes.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a schematic diagram of an exercise record E_rcd according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, corresponding to the exercise menu E_menu shown in FIG. 5, the exercise record E_rcd records that the trainee has completed the running, leg kick and dumbbell items, and the achievement rate shown in the display is one hundred percent.

Moreover, the communication unit 11, 21, 23 and 31 may perform wireless communication by Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), WiFi, ZigBee or infrared, which is not limited.

To sum up, the exercise recording system of the present invention may collect exercise records and transmit exercise records to the exercise database with the exercise recording device, so as to provide the numerical data (e.g. movement, a number of repetitions, a number of sets, duration, a type of exercise, a machine code and weight that the trainee is actually performed during the weight training) to both of the trainee and the trainer, which may improve a communication barrier between the trainee and the trainer. As a result, the trainer may objectively review the achievement rate of the weight training according to the current exercise record to plan the next exercise menu. Or, the trainee may also review the current exercise record and ask for further requirements to reach better efficiency and effectiveness of the weight training.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise recording device, comprising: a communication unit for receiving an equipment information; a gravity sensor for generating a sensing signal; a processor coupled to the communication unit and the gravity sensor for generating an exercise record according to the equipment information and the sensing signal; and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the exercise record according to a display signal generated by the processor.
 2. The exercise recording device of claim 1, wherein the exercise record corresponds to an exercise menu.
 3. The exercise recording device of claim 2, further comprising: a storing unit coupled to the processor and accessed by the processor to store the exercise menu and the exercise record.
 4. The exercise recording device of claim 3, wherein the communication unit is used for receiving the exercise menu, such that the processor generates the display signal according to the exercise menu and the exercise record.
 5. The exercise recording device of claim 3, wherein the exercise menu indicates a movement, a number of repetitions, a duration, a type of exercise, a machine code and a weight.
 6. The exercise recording device of claim 1, wherein the equipment information indicates a type of exercise, a machine code and a weight.
 7. The exercise recording device of claim 1, wherein the gravity sensor is used for sensing a vertical movement to generate the sensing signal, such that the processor accumulates a number of repetitions according to the sensing signal.
 8. The exercise recording device of claim 1, further comprising a holder for holding the exercise recording device, such that the exercise recording device is able to be attached to or removed from the holder.
 9. The exercise recording device of claim 8, wherein the exercise recording device is a wearable recording device and the recording device is a personal identification.
 10. The exercise recording device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further used for timing a duration.
 11. The exercise recording device of claim 1, wherein the processor generates the display signal according to the exercise record, such that the display displays an exercise progress and a connection status.
 12. The exercise recording device of claim 1, wherein the communication unit performs wireless communication by Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), WiFi, ZigBee or infrared.
 13. An exercise recording system, comprising: an exercise recording device comprising: a first communication unit for receiving an equipment information; a gravity sensor for generating a sensing signal; a first processor coupled to the communication unit and the gravity sensor for generating an exercise record according to the equipment information and the sensing signal; and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the exercise record according to a display signal generated by the processor; and at least one exercise equipment, wherein each of the at least one exercise equipment comprises a plurality of second communication units for transmitting the equipment information.
 14. The exercise recording system of claim 13, wherein the exercise record corresponds to an exercise menu.
 15. The exercise recording system of claim 14, wherein the exercise recording device further comprises: a first storing unit coupled to the first processor and accessed by the first processor to store the exercise menu and the exercise record.
 16. The exercise recording system of claim 14, further comprises an exercise database, and the exercise database comprises: a second storing unit for storing the exercise menu and the exercise record; a third communication unit for transmitting the exercise menu to the exercise recording device and receiving the exercise record from the exercise recording device by performing wireless communication with the first communication unit; and a second processor coupled to the second storing unit and the third communication unit.
 17. The exercise recording system of claim 14, wherein the exercise menu indicates a movement, a number of repetitions, a number of sets, a duration, a rest time, a type of exercise, a machine code and a weight.
 18. The exercise recording system of claim 13, wherein the equipment information indicates a type of exercise, a machine code and a weight.
 19. The exercise recording system of claim 13, wherein the gravity sensor is used for sensing a vertical movement to generate the sensing signal, such that the first processor accumulates a number of repetitions according to the sensing signal.
 20. The exercise recording system of claim 13, wherein the exercise recording device further comprises a holder for holding the exercise recording device, such that the exercise recording device is able to be attached to or removed from the holder.
 21. The exercise recording system of claim 20, wherein the holder is used for holding the exercise recording device, and the exercise recording device is a wearable recording device, and the exercise recording device is a personal identification.
 22. The exercise recording system of claim 13, wherein the first processor is further used for timing a duration.
 23. The exercise recording system of claim 13, wherein the first processor generates the display signal according to the exercise record to display an exercise progress and a connection status on the display.
 24. The exercise recording system of claim 17, wherein the first communication unit, the plurality of second communication units and the third communication unit perform wireless communication with each other by Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), WiFi, ZigBee or infrared. 